Two children are dead and 17 others are injured after a shooter opened fire into a Catholic church in Minneapolis where students and school staff were attending morning mass Wednesday, law enforcement confirmed.
The shooting occurred just before 8:30 a.m. at the Annunciation Catholic Church, which operates a PreK through 8th grade school. The mass was marking the first week of school. The two children killed were 8 and 10 years old, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said.
Fourteen of the 17 injured are children, O’Hara said. Two children are in critical condition.
“There are no words that can capture the horror and the evil of this unspeakable act,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a press conference hours after the shooting. “Don’t just say that this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church.”
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“They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence, and their parents should have the same kind of assurance,” Frey added.
The gunman, who was armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, fired shots through the church windows, O’Hara said. The shooter died by suicide.
O’Hara said the investigation is in “preliminary stages.” The shooter was in his early 20s, O’Hara said. Officials have not detailed any information about possible motives.
President Donald Trump posted that he was “fully briefed” on the shooting and said he was “praying for everyone involved,” and that the White House was monitoring the situation. “The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene,” he said. A White House official confirmed Trump spoke with Gov. Tim Walz about the shooting.
“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz said on X.
Lawmakers from the state also posted about the shooting Wednesday morning.
“I’m grateful for the quick response of law enforcement as we continue to gather information. It’s the first week of school. These kids should not be fearing for their lives,” Sen. Tina Smith posted on X.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar posted she was “heartbroken by the horrific violence.”
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